*1 grams argues within the time frame of of only occurred crack cocaine. Hines not that in drug conspiracy assigning district court erred him a charged but was itself a adjustment upward two-level for his role as a conspiracy. step in that manager supervisor or under United States jury could have convicted the 3Bl.l(c) (1997) § Sentencing Guidelines and based on a individual defendants either direct failing in grant a two level downward abetting theory or aiding under a Pink and adjustment being participant for a minor un- theory liability vicarious erton of for cocon 3B1.2(b). § der U.S.S.G. Wilson likewise ar- Cleveland, spirators. Murphy, Davis and gues declining that in the district court erred personally have been could each convicted of adjustment grant him a downward for abetting carrying in aiding the use or of and being participant. a minor These are all Murphy turns the firearm. took issues, persuaded factual we are not and using and Wilson the firearm with Howard findings clearly district court’s were erro- sales, during drugs helped keep he also neous. view hidden from between sales. firearm Murphy argues district court helped carrying Davis in and Cleveland him assigning double level counted two by meeting Howard at the bus sta firearm upward being adjustment for man- Gilliam’s taking him to the Inn. tion Red Roof and ager supervisor already he was when con- using victed of minor to assist in a con- contrast, there no evidence was spiracy Murphy to distribute crack. also aided personally Hines and abetted granted contends have that the court should carrying of firearm at either the use or adjustment acceptance him a downward however, Hines, present was at least issue. 3E1.1, § responsibility under U.S.S.G as several of the co- when threatened Jarrett departure well as under a downward a different firearm conspirators with Finally, argues U.S.S.G. 5K2.0. Cleveland missing drugs. At that effort to recover incorrectly that the concluded district point, co-conspirators that his Hines knew authority that it his lacked the consider and could possessed or more firearms one departures motions under for downward reasonably foreseen that firearms would have 5K2.0, have §§ U.S.S.G. 5K2.12. We careful- during and in carried furtherance be used or ly arguments appellants’ and reviewed conspiracy. scope Given and drug of the record con- portions the relevant and conspiracy, it fore was likewise nature of are merit. arguments clude that without co-conspirators assist his would seeable that result, carrying As a using and firearms. guilty found Hines jury could have liability abetting under vicarious aiding and Accordingly,
theory. we conclude Murphy, sufficient convict evidence was BARKER; Express Charles S. Cleveland, Davis, and Hines of Count IV. Golf, Inc., Appellants, IX. INC., U.S.A., Appellee. GOLF Davis, exception Appellants, with 97-4243. No. concerning their arguments numerous make Jarrett, Cleveland, Murphy sentences. Appeals, United States disparity unconstitutional the challenge as Eighth Circuit. in- assigned offenses levels base offense May 1998. Submitted compared to of- cocaine as volving crack Aug. Decided powder involving equal quantity fenses Rehearing Suggestion for rejected Rehearing argument has This been cocaine. 29, 1998.* Sept. En Banc Denied cases. numerous dispute the Hines, Murphy Cleveland con- finding factual
district court’s grams
spiracy between involved
* grant suggestion. Judge McMillian would *2 ¶ 18.1, A at 29-30. Agreement
Franchise included, which provision was choice-of-law “shall that the franchise specified in accordance governed and construed be *3 Oklahoma,” Id. laws of the State with the ¶ 20.1,-at- agreement also contained The Missouri, Louis, Duree, ar- St. David M. 12-point type bold-face in Appellants. gued, for stated, acknowledge You have re- “You Missouri, Louis, Green, ar- St. Thomas J. Agreement in copy this blank ceived a brief), Winters, (Bradley on the gued A. to seek ample opportunity time to afford Appellee. counsel, pro- analyze the various legal and to ¶ 20.13, at 33. Id. visions herein.” BOWMAN, Judge, Chief Before than nine operation failed less The retail HANSEN, Judges. HEANEY, Circuit and the franchise the execution of months after thereafter, Express and agreement. Soon BOWMAN, Judge. Chief action, claiming that present Barker filed the franchisee, Golf, Inc., a and Express representations made Golf fraudulent U.S.A., owner, Barker, sued Golf its Charles operation success of the and U.S.A. about franchisor, court. fraud state signing the Barker into franchise induced federal district to The case was removed Upon to fed- agreement. removal franchise whereupon diversity grounds, Golf court on court, Court held that eral the District ground on moved to dismiss resolved arbitra- parties’ dispute must be agree- franchise in the an arbitration clause clause con- pursuant to the arbitration tion plaintiffs’ required ment agreement. We af- in the franchise tained granted the mo- The District Court1 claims. firm. appeal. tion, Barker Express and begin by determining analysis must Our In a are as follows. The facts of the case subject agreement the franchise whether 18, September agreement dated franchise (FAA), Act to the Federal Arbitration U.S.A., 1995, corporation, an Oklahoma (1994). attempt to §§ In an 1-16 U.S.C. corporation, Missouri granted Express, a arbitration, favoring national declare a using golf retail store operate a mandating Congress passed the FAA methods, name, designs, sys- Golf U.S.A.’s agreements. See of arbitration enforcement day, tem, That same marks. and service § has held 2. The Court U.S.C. Barker, of Ex- the sole shareholder Charles provi applies FAA to arbitration obligations guarantee the press, agreed enforcement, sions, thereby mandating their agreement. franchise Express under South subject to two limitations. See the follow- agreement included The franchise 1, 10-11, Keating, 465 Corp. v. U.S. land ing provision: (1984). First, 79 L.Ed.2d S.Ct. agreement part “must be of a disputes, claims and controver- Any and all or a contract ‘evi maritime contract relating to this written arising out of sies ” involving,commerce.’ dencing a transaction hereunder or Agreement, performance (quoting 9 U.S.C. hereof, Id. at 104 S.Ct. except for monies owed breach 2). Second, “may be re § Agreement and pursuant to this Golf USA 18.5, ‘grounds as exist at law or upon voked Paragraph except as described ” the revocation of contract.’ equity for by arbitration conducted be resolved shall 2). Oklahoma, The District (quoting 9 U.S.C. County, Id. State of in Oklahoma found, dispute, parties and the do not existing the latest Com- accordance with agreement involves inter that the Arbitration of the Ameri- mercial Rules of parties are located commerce. The state Association. can Arbitration Shaw, States souri. A. United 1. The Honorable Charles Judge District of Mis- for the Eastern District Missouri, Casarotto, states, Doctor’s
different Oklahoma and Assocs. contemplates the transfer of S.Ct. L.Ed.2d inventory money between states. question The then becomes one choice- however, parties dispute, do whether the apply? of-law. state’s Which laws are we arbitration clause contained the franchise Despite a choice-of-law in the fran- agreement is valid. agreement designating chise Oklahoma
Initially, we must determine whether
argue
Barker
that Missouri law
it is for the
or an arbitrator to
decide
apply.
having
should
No
reason
validity
of the arbitration clause. Ex
setting
been advanced for
aside
choice-of-
press and Barker claim that the arbitration
provision upon
parties agreed
law
which the
mutuality
obligation,
clause lacks
is uncon
contract,
reject
argument
in their
*4
scionable,
public policy.
and violates
The
applies.2
and conclude that Oklahoma law
District
held that
these claims should
Express and Barker claim that Golf
disagree.
be decided
an arbitrator. We
promise
illusory
U.S.A.’s
to arbitrate is
Corp. v.
In Prima Paint
Flood & Conklin
mutuality. They
therefore fails for lack of
Co.,
395, 403-04,
Manufacturing
388 U.S.
87
argue
virtually any
that
claim can be convert
1801,
(1967),
L.Ed.2d 1270
the
S.Ct.
18
Su
ed into a claim for
to
monies owed
preme
that a
Court held
claim of fraud
the
pursuant
and,
agreement
the
to
as a
as
go
inducement of a contract
must
whole
result,
permitted
litigate
.A. is
Golf U.S
to
arbitrator,
[go]
“issue[s]
to
but
which
to
claim,
any
they
conceivable
while
must arbi
‘making’
agreement
the
to
of
arbitrate”
issue,
trate their
To
claims.
resolve
“we
by a
also
should be decided
court. See
Houl
apply
as
[Oklahoma law]
are bound to
arewe
Co.,
692,
31
ihan
&
F.3d
694-95
Offerman
rulings
to
it from
of
Cir.1994).
able
discern
(8th
[Okla
underlying
In this
Packing
homa’s] courts.”
v. Anchor
Jackson
of
is for fraud in the inducement
claim
Cir.1993).
(8th
Co.,
1295,
994 F.2d
1310
The
contract,
is
entire
but that
not the issue with
ruled on
Oklahoma courts have not
Rather,
today.
we are faced
which
is.sue
mutuality
obligation
of
required
of whether
is
go to
Barker
claims that
assert
in an
For the
arbitration clause.
reasons
making
agreement
of the arbitration
itself.
below,
Paint,
stated
believe that the Oklahoma
we
a court must
Prima
deeide
Under
mutuality
that
Court would hold
to
is
agreement
arbitrate
valid.
whether
required.
is
clauses
arbitration
parties’
To
whether
decide
Properties,
valid,
Ditto v.
to
is
look
agreement
arbitrate
we
to
RE/MAX Preferred
1000,
Thomas,
(Okla.Ct.App.1993),
861
1004
Perry
P.2d
contract law. See
state
9,
2520,
483,
appeals
court
held unenforceable an
of
n.
107 S.Ct.
96
493-94
(“[S]tate
(1987)
party
that excluded one
426
whether of
arbitration clause
L.Ed.2d
participating in
selection of an arbi
judicial origin,
applicable
from
legislative
is
if
concerning
process,
trator.
In the
the court considered
govern
law arose to
issues
argument
arbitration clause
validity, revocability,
enforceability
Ditto,
mutuality
obligation.
of
may apply lacked
generally.”). We
of contracts
only
P.2d
The
cited two cases
agreements
861
at 1002.
to
state law arbitration
distinguishing its
from those that
applies
in in
case
to contracts
the extent
obligations
arbi
“involve-truly one-sided
Cos. v.
general. See Allied-Bruce Terminix
281,
834,
(citing
Dobson,
265,
R.W. Roberts Constr. Co.
130 trate.” Id.
513
115 S.Ct.
U.S.
Dist.,
Management
way,
v. St. Johns River Water
Put another
we
L.Ed.2d
630,
(Fla.Ct.App.1982)
Ar
an arbitration
423 So.2d
not invalidate
Silin,
1007,
Graphics Corp. v.
59 A.D.2d
only to
cata
ápplicable
arbi
under
state law
(1977)).
738,
instead,
may apply
399 N.Y.S.2d
738-39
provisions;
tration
issue, however, is
court’s consideration
general contract defenses. See
a state’s
unpersuasive
invalid.
articulated
of-law
We find
the reasons
declaring
dissenting opinion for
the choice-
(“We
.
as a whole
reject
lack
consideration for a contract
[the
Id.
pure dicta
ground
Doctor’s
proper
covers the arbitration clause. See
mutuality argument] as a
(2d
Distajo,
...
Cir.
[because]
at issue
Assocs. v.
66 F.3d
challenge the clause
1995) (“Most
expressly
facing
rested its decision
this issue have
courts
trial court
[t]he
-panel.”).
consider
[that
at the same conclusion
unfairness
arrived
on the
Graphics
Further,
in Areata
the decision
for the entire
is sufficient to
ation
contract
clause].”)
abrogat
been
(citing
cited has since
support
the court
the arbitration
which
Co.,
denied,
Sablosky v.
S. Gordon
73 eases),
Edward
ed
cert.
S.Ct.
U.S.
136-37,
(1996);
538 N.Y.S.2d
also
N.Y.2d
Court jury special guarantee of “Because of the
ed: constitution, granted by our hold we
trials provision purporting to a contractual right to elect alternative
grant a unilateral procedures is not enforce dispute resolution Porsch; SCHUVER; Terry Luke demanding jury against party able Moore, Appellants, Burl Lynn Hickey Neighbors trial.” v. v. Inc., (Okla.Ct.App. Dodge, at 9 No. 85.676 COMPANY; MIDAMERICAN ENERGY A119) (J.A. 6, 1996) A-111, Aug. (emphasis at Stowe; G. International Broth William original).7 can no There be doubt that Workers, 499; of Electrical Local erhood Neighbors holding persuasive on both Wilson, Appellees. L. William respect to point with this case.8 No. 97-2269. empowered predict are We how Appeals, United States Court of this Supreme Court would decide Oklahoma Eighth Circuit. view, compels law my matter. Oklahoma right us to find that the unilateral that Golf Submitted Dec. 1997. directly possesses in this case contra- Aug. 20, 1998. Decided for venes its constitution. It is this reason respectfully hope dissent and that our banc, Supreme court en or the United States
Court,
misappre-
transparent
this
corrects
Lane,
(Okla.1993),
6.Although
Supreme
pro
Court
In Cannon
